Struck by the Storm

He gave his life to rescue a child in danger.

Some of the details are still murky. What we know is that it happened during Hurricane Irene.

Actually, it was after the worst of Irene had apparently passed. At about 11 a.m. on Sunday, August 28, I felt safe enough to leave the house (where we had no electricity), get in my car and drive to my office where there was electricity, to catch up on some work. Little did I know that around the corner from my home a horrific tragedy was about to take place, and the victim was not only my neighbor but my friend, Moshe Yosef Reichenberg.

At about 2 a.m., early Sunday morning, as Irene raged through our sleeping, wooded neighborhood in Rockland County, an hour north of New York City, there was a loud “boom!” The storm had brought down some high voltage power lines at the corner of Merrick and Union. The transformer had been damaged, shooting sparks in all directions like a fireworks display.

Moshe Yosef was awakened by the blast, quickly put on a bathrobe and ran outside to see if anyone needed help. His house was one street over from the danger of the sparking transformer, yet he ran out into the night worried about his neighbors’ safety. That’s who he was. If anyone embodied the biblical ethical imperative “not to stand idly by one's neighbor's blood,” it was Moshe Yosef.

At that time, no one's blood had been spilled.

He met up with a neighbor who’d also heard the blast, came outside, saw the damage and called the police to report the danger. But it was a night of downed wires and trees all over the area, and no vehicles were dispatched at that time. After realizing there was nothing more to do, Moshe Yosef went back home.

He was a black-belt in martial arts and a handyman.

The next morning, he went off as usual to pray in one of the local synagogues. And as he did every morning, after prayers he studied Torah for a while. I'm not sure if he went home first or directly to the house where the transformer had fallen, but around 11 a.m. he arrived at his neighbor's house. Besides being a very caring man, Moshe Yosef was a black-belt in martial arts and a handyman. He probably went to see if there was anything he could do now to help.

Indeed, there was a problem. The transformer wires had fallen in front of a house that had a wire metal fence, commonly found in suburbia. I'm not sure if the live wire was actually touching the fence or in a puddle nearby. Whatever the case, the 6-year old boy who lived in this house had wandered too close to the fence.

This boy’s parents no doubt took precautions and warned their child. Nevertheless, as little children are sometimes wont to do, this boy apparently got curious. He certainly knew nothing about metal conducting electricity. Before anyone could do anything, he touched the metal fence.

The boy immediately went into shock. His hands pulsed with electrical current, unable to unclutch themselves from the metal.

The boy’s father immediately ran over to pull his child from the fence. The boy's entire body, though, was now electrified, and when the father grabbed him he was thrown backwards, falling unconscious to the ground. The father's arms were burned, but as a doctor later told him he was saved by the large rubber boots he had been wearing.

There are no eyewitnesses to what happened next. But when the father opened his eyes, he saw his son laying unconscious, yet no longer clutching the fence. However, Moshe Yosef Reichenberg was on the ground, his face expressionless, his body smoldering.

Although EMTs arrived quickly at the scene, it was a few hours before anyone could even touch Moshe Yosef's body, which itself was electrified.

In losing his own life, Moshe Yosef had somehow managed to wrest the boy from the fence and save him. It was the ultimate selfless act by a man whose life epitomized selflessness and sacrifice.

Who can retell your greatness, Moshe Yosef?

Sterling Character

Moshe Yosef Reichenberg was raised in a typical American Jewish home. In his 20s, he diverted from the paved path of college and professional career to take up with passion the inheritance of his forefathers.

Moshe Yosef was a true role model. His legendary smile and joy for life were infectious. Even his Torah teachers looked up to him as their teacher in how to have faith in the face of extreme hardship. And Moshe Yosef had hardship that would make most of us break.

His autistic child is the happiest person on the planet.

Among his life challenges, he has an autistic child. And yet, I once remarked to Moshe Yosef about this child, "He is the happiest person on the planet."

Moshe Yosef himself embodied simcha, joy. It was not a simcha born of material plenty or carefree living. Rather it was a simcha born of deep faith. People talk about being close to God, but Moshe Yosef truly walked with God. We could see it on his face, all the time, no matter what else was happening in his life.

Years ago, his house had caught fire, taking along with it all his worldly possessions. All that mattered to him was that his wife and children were safe. The next day, he remarked to one of his closest confidantes, "I've never been happier. Now all I have is God."

It was not just talk in Moshe Yosef. It was the result of working on himself all those years, learning and living Torah and having it sink into his bones.

Widow and Orphans

I attended the shiva. The outpouring from our community was enormous. But even so, the scope of the tragedy was overwhelming.

One of his non-observant relatives told me that although she doesn't pretend to understand God's ways, it was apropos that he died the way he did, after a morning of praying, learning Torah and then making the ultimate sacrifice for someone else's child. He died in the highest state of purity, she said.

I myself couldn't stop thinking about his kids, especially the two youngest boys, a 12-year-old, and one who turned 11 on the third day of shiva. What a way to celebrate a birthday.

I looked at these boys and cried. I am still crying. The family has enormous financial needs. The community – us, you and I – are going to have to scramble mightily to meet them. Because the children are suddenly bereft of a father.

Yes, they have their Father in Heaven. Moshe Yosef would have been the first to say that. But Moshe Yosef was everything to them. He cannot be replaced. And so I am crying. We are all crying.

At this time, the books of life and death are opened.

What a person does in life echoes to eternity. Moshe Yosef's echo will resound in the loudest way forever and ever. I have not even scratched the surface of how truly great his life accomplishments were. These boys, as well his his teenage daughter and righteous wife, will always have his memories and his legacy.

This is a time for us, the living, to pick up the slack however we can. A special annuity fund has been established that will secure the future needs of the family, and the costs of special education for their autistic son. A group of dedicated financial trustees have been appointed to administrate the fund on behalf of the Reichenberg family.

At this time, when the books of life and death are opened, and the scribe is writing all our deeds for good or bad, I make a personal plea to open your heart with the utmost generosity. This is what Judaism is about. Helping others in their time of need. The Reichenbergs time of need is upon us.

About the Author

Yaakov Astor, Editor-in-Chief of Zman Magazine, has written, co-written or edited more than 30 books and hundreds of articles in a wide variety of periodicals, including Nothing Bad Ever Happens. In addition to his writing career, he is a former yeshivah teacher and principal who has also taught in various outreach capacities. Currently, he is the Deputy Director of Zechor Yemos Olam (the Holocaust education branch of Torah Umesorah) and helps administer its online course to leading educators. He also leads annual tours to Poland.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 9

(9)
Rachel,
September 15, 2011 4:24 AM

Yakar bieynei Hashem hamavsa lachasidov

When I heard about the incident, I was saddened. I avoided finding out details. Last night I read this article and today I spent grieving. I didn't know Moshe, but I recognize him. I'm reminded of the Psalm that says how precious is the death of the devout to Hashem. Hashem takes special care of widows and orphans, May He watch over this family and give them many years with only joy. Hamokom Yinachem.

(8)
Shaindy,
September 14, 2011 4:57 AM

So very sad

I can't even imagine the strength it took for Mr. Reichenberg to do what he did.
May both families be comforted amongst the mourners of Zion.

(7)
Anonymous,
September 13, 2011 4:02 PM

We didn't appreciate him in his lifetime.

There is a midrash, I think to Shir HaShirim that tells us that Hashem was walking in a beautiful garden. He went straight to a gorgeous rose, perfect in its appearance and fragrance and plucked it from its place. He said He was taking it because the people who frequented the garden didn't appreciate it. Moshe Yosef struggled financially for the past 10-15 years. His business wasn’t doing well. He would have declared bankruptcy the following day, had he not died. He was smart and hardworking. He didn't need charity. What he needed was a strong, outstretched arm to pull him out of his situation and direct him in the right direction. We didn’t do enough for him in his lifetime, so Hashem took him. Lionizing him now does no good for him, nor for his family.

(6)
Anonymous,
September 13, 2011 12:31 PM

6-year old child

Unfortunately, the 6-year old child that had been rescued from the fence succumbed to his serious injuries at the end of last week. The family is in the middle of shiva right now.
May these two most recent "korbanos" -- sacrifices for k'lal Yisroel bring about the end to all our suffering and a redemption for the rest of us.

(5)
ruth housman,
September 13, 2011 11:23 AM

A Righteous Man

It was hard to read this without feeling the enormity of this man, what he did, his soul. It is truly awful in both senses of the word, awe full and awful, what happened, and then his selfless actions.
If the world has been saved, and I believe it has been, many times by such acts of valor, of heart, in following the dictum, if you have saved one life it's as if you have saved a world, then this man's deed, is shining, beyond, shining.
His story left me in tears and I hope, I truly hope, the community rises to honor him, his family, and do what's right, because there is nothing more important, than an act of tikkun of this magnitude, in teaching us all, about why we must be, here.

(4)
Yoily & Rechy,
September 12, 2011 10:13 PM

From now on, Simchas only for your whole family. Amen

No question that we all must do whatever we are able to, and may we all merit to have Simchas.Amen.

(3)
Rebecca,
September 8, 2011 10:07 PM

What a moving story and what a precious soul. May he rest in peace!

(2)
Rose Kelly,
September 8, 2011 10:41 AM

Heart broken for your family's loss.

I'll call and see what i can do for your family,my Daughter posted this for me to read.

(1)
LADYDI,
September 7, 2011 4:29 PM

What a shame this brave, loving man died. This also happened in front of my home years ago during a severe tropical storm and my 4 children were all kept inside until it was safe to go outside. My prayers go out to his family. There is surely a place in heaven for him....and he is now looking down on his family, protecting them and generating his love.

My nephew is having his bar mitzvah and I am thinking of a gift. In the old days, the gift of choice was a fountain pen, then a Walkman, and today an iPod. But I want to get him something special. What do you suggest?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Since this event celebrates the young person becoming obligated in the commandments, the most appropriate gift is, naturally, one that gives a deeper understanding of the Jewish heritage and enables one to better perform the mitzvot! (An iPod, s/he can get anytime.)

With that in mind, my favorite gift idea is a tzedakah (charity) box. Every Jew should have a tzedakah box in his home, so he can drop in change on a regular basis. The money can then be given to support a Jewish school or institution -- in your home town or in Israel (every Jews’ “home town”). There are beautiful tzedakah boxes made of wood and silver, and you can see a selection here.

For boys, a really beautiful gift is a pair of tefillin, the black leather boxes which contain parchments of Torah verses, worn on the bicep and the head. Owning a pair of Tefillin (and wearing them!) is an important part of Jewish identity. But since they are expensive (about $400), not every Bar Mitzvah boy has a pair. To make sure you get kosher Tefillin, see here.

In 1944, the Nazis perpetrated the Children's Action in the Kovno Ghetto. That day and the next, German soldiers conducted house-to-house searches to round up all children under age 12 (and adults over 55) -- and sent them to their deaths at Fort IX. Eventually, the Germans blew up every house with grenades and dynamite, on suspicion that Jews might be in hiding in underground bunkers. They then poured gasoline over much of the former ghetto and incinerated it. Of the 37,000 Jews in Kovno before the Holocaust, less than 10 percent survived. One of the survivors was Rabbi Ephraim Oshri, who later published a stirring collection of rabbinical responsa, detailing his life-and-death decisions during the Holocaust. Also on this date, in 1937, American Jews held a massive anti-Nazi rally in New York City's Madison Square Garden.

In a letter to someone who found it difficult to study Torah, the 20th century sage the Chazon Ish wrote:

"Some people find it hard to be diligent in their Torah studies. But the difficulty persists only for a short while - if the person sincerely resolves to submerge himself in his studies. Very quickly the feelings of difficulty will go away and he will find that there is no worldly pleasure that can compare with the pleasure of studying Torah diligently."

Although actions generally have much greater impact than thoughts, thoughts may have a more serious effect in several areas.

The distance that our hands can reach is quite limited. The ears can hear from a much greater distance, and the reach of the eye is much farther yet. Thought, however, is virtually limitless in its reach. We can think of objects millions of light years away, and so we have a much greater selection of improper thoughts than of improper actions.

Thought also lacks the restraints that can deter actions. One may refrain from an improper act for fear of punishment or because of social disapproval, but the privacy of thought places it beyond these restraints.

Furthermore, thoughts create attitudes and mindsets. An improper action creates a certain amount of damage, but an improper mindset can create a multitude of improper actions. Finally, an improper mindset can numb our conscience and render us less sensitive to the effects of our actions. We therefore do not feel the guilt that would otherwise come from doing an improper act.

We may not be able to avoid the occurrence of improper impulses, but we should promptly reject them and not permit them to dwell in our mind.

Today I shall...

make special effort to avoid harboring improper thoughts.

With stories and insights,
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